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alleycat333

This hurts my eyes - want a modern, neutral room - better pics

12 years ago
Hi, Houzzers - I want to create a neutral living room but I feel stuck. I have an 11 x 14 living room with Behr Silver Screen paint, amber-toned wood floors, the Karlstad sofa in Sivik grey and a honey-colored reclaimed wood mirror. The wall paint reads pale blue (I wanted it grey); the floors, of course, are reddish; the sofa is charcoal with a strong denim overtone in certain lights and the mirror is a lovely honey but obviously it doesn't go well with the floors - I don't think. I can't change the floors for another year and I am trying to avoid repainting (although I will if I have to). My questions: 1. can I make this all gel together with accessories/curtains/rugs? Is any wood floor a neutral? 2. If not, is there a type of white paint that will tone down the red in the floors and the blue in the sofa? 3. Should I just embrace the red and blue for now and go for some other kind of color scheme. The photo here is a vague mood board I created by adding some black and white and silver accessories near some of the room elements to see if I could "neutralize" everything. (Ignore the chocolate brown sofa in far left corner - it's about to be ditched.)

Comments (28)

  • PRO
    12 years ago
    Right now, the blue undertones of the walls make the floor feel more red, and the red undertones of the floor make the walls feel more blue! White walls would be a great solution for creating a more neutral space. It'll also feel really clean and contemporary, which seems appropriate based on the shape and style of furniture you've selected.

    Check out Benjamin Moore's Simply White. It's a nice cleanwhite that doesn't feel too cold.
    Alley Cat thanked Deb Reinhart Interior Design Group, Inc.
  • 12 years ago
    Thanks! I will check out the BM option (I'll be looking for a Mystic equivalent as I have a baby in the house). What undertone does Simply White have?.
  • 12 years ago
    I meant Mythic paint!
  • 12 years ago
    You need warm accents to tie in the warm floor with the cool couch.
    Alley Cat thanked Andrea D.
  • 12 years ago
    Are you set on the mirror? I think that's the only thing really throwing it off with the yellow tone compared to the red in the floor.
    Alley Cat thanked tweeena
  • 12 years ago
    I agree about the mirror. Maybe bring on art and it will look just fine. No room looks pulled together without art.
  • 12 years ago
    Looks like I should lose the mirror! A question for Deb Reinhart or anyone else - can you paint a north-facing room white? The room has fairly good light from two tall windows, but I'm worried that if I paint BM Simply White to neutralize it, that it might look shadowy and dingy? Also, what would be the best paint finish for a north facing room with wood panels?
  • PRO
    12 years ago
    That mirror isn't serving the space well.

    I'm not personally a fan of white, it's too stark.

    Have you looked up living rooms with wood floors? That could help you choose a paint color.
    Alley Cat thanked Angelina Vick
  • 12 years ago
    I'm really tempted by the white idea after seeing some great rooms on this site, but it's hard to know what the lighting is like.
  • PRO
    12 years ago
    I'm looking through the idea books. It looks like many people use white with your color of wood flooring. I see some that are a very light cream color too. Mostly people leaned into a very light color.

    I don't think it will be an issue as far as your lighting. But...honestly I'm not sure.

    Can you take more pictures of the space so we can see a complete view? It helps.
    Alley Cat thanked Angelina Vick
  • 12 years ago
    Here are views of the north facing windows (it's not nearly as dark as this photo suggests), the TV area (I want to do a floating media cabinet made from IKEA Besta boxes and a wood-grain sheet from Panyl below TV), and the view to the hallway. The dark brown couch is about to be thrown out. Lots of baby equipment temporarily in room!
  • 12 years ago
    They have so many different whites to keep from looking too stark. I think white would look good. Then you can tie in some great art pieces to bring in the warmth from your floor :)
  • PRO
    12 years ago
    Hi, as shown in the pictures I am attaching, I would place an over hanging lamp in the corner (west elm) canvas art (Brooklyn bridge from IKEA) a concrete neutral coffee table (Crate&Barrel) and a high pile neutral rug (IKEA). I think this combination will soften the color of the floor and neutralize the wall color while matching it. Best of luck!
    P.S. You could also use a tripod floor lamp in the corner...
  • 12 years ago
    This is awesome, thanks NEMM. I was admiring your comments on someone else's post earlier today. Thanks so much for commenting here. Will check these pieces out!
  • 12 years ago
    What about getting a warm rug? Something camel or gray colored? We just got an awesome Berber remnant from the rug store for super cheap.... Looks awesome!
  • 12 years ago
    Remnants are a great idea. I'm debating the whole rug thing because I don't want to cut off the far corner where the old couch is, which will hopefully be replaced by an armchair. Camel could work, although I am in love with a tan tufted armchair.
  • 12 years ago
    I like your paint color...and your couch...I just think the mirror is throwing things off...why not just get some throw pillows you like...a simple carpet and some substantially sized art and voila...your room will come alive...good luck...
  • PRO
    12 years ago
    Take away one of the couches, too cluttered. Take away mirror does not match flooring. Minimalistic approach is the key here:)
  • PRO
    12 years ago
    Thanks! I'm happy to inspire you, here is another combination of accessories that may warm up the room... 1) west elm 2) z gallery 3) c&b 4) west elm
    P.S. A good tip is to use 2 stools instead of a regular coffee table, to gain space in a small room...
  • 12 years ago
    Poor mirror! I love it and I was hoping to echo it in some bamboo wood-grain media storage on the opposite wall, but it sounds like it is too hard to work in with the current floors. Will look for large prints or do b&w prints on canvas maybe.
  • 12 years ago
    Thank you everyone - these comments are really helping me plan my weekend. Must get to bed.... goodnight!
  • PRO
    12 years ago
    Feel free to have a look at my work and see what inspires you.
    http://angelina-vick.artistwebsites.com/
  • 12 years ago
    Since I've put color onto my walls, I could never ever live again with white or cream on my walls. This is why your hardwood floors bother you. If they are in ok shape, leave them. Paint is cheaper, so put color on the walls & go a shade darker than you normally would.

    The house my husband & I bought 14 yrs ago came with an old, high quality, light blue/turquoise carpet in the living room - a color they do not make anymore. Back then, I could not find a sofa I loved, nor anything I hated, to coordinate with that color, either. So my mom told me to ignore the carpet and get the sofa I loved. I followed her advice, painted my walls in colors ( golden brown & gooseberry) complimenting my sofa and people don't notice this old, blue carpet. In fact, no one...including my artist friends, can tell me what color carpet I should get. They ALL love the old blue one with my color scheme. Go figure.
  • PRO
    12 years ago
    Nice suggestion NEMM Design Group, Inc., if you decide to go with the arch lamp, instylemodern.com has it
  • 12 years ago
    I agree with pickyvicky. White (even warmer white) will be too stark and light in a north facing room, especially with your dark furniture. Choose a colour (even grey, although that isn't my personal favourite) that has a red undertone, and make it at least one shade darker than you would expect to want.

    Stain the mirror and lower it if you really like it, or put a beautiful painting or poster (much larger) there. You might even want to do a collage of smaller pix that fill that area. Go lower to the sofa, though...high enough so your little one can't reach, but low enough so that it doesn't seem to float on its own.
    Alley Cat thanked lepstein
  • 12 years ago
    I think you would be happier with a Mythic Paint like Amber Waves or Tumbleweed. You'll be surprised how gray it reads when combined with your sofa colors.
    Alley Cat thanked m3459
  • 12 years ago
    Consider Mythic Bedford Blue or Secrets of the Sea.
    Alley Cat thanked lepstein